Safe Alternatives for Cleaning Products

If you have been looking for some safer choices for cleaning products in the home, check out this list below:

Instead of ...........................Try This:

• Bleach .............................................. Borax, lemon juice, sunlight
• Window Glass Cleaner ................... Vinegar in water
• Ant Repellent ..................................Spray cayenne powder in holes ;Mint pots discourage ants from entering the house
• Fly Repellent................................... Plant several pots with basil (herb that repels different insects)
• Floor Cleaner................................... Vinegar and few drops of eucalyptus oil
  Mosquito repellent.......................... Simmer Citronella Oil
• Mildew Remover............................. Hydrogen peroxide to remove; Borax for inhibiting growth
• Shoe polish....................................... Banana peel
• Furniture Polish.............................. Few drops of olive oil plus vinegar
• Copper Cleaner............................... Lemon juice
• Oven Cleaner.................................. Baking soda and water; sprinkle inside, let sit overnight and scour
• Silver Polish.................................... Baking soda and sea salt
• Drain Opener...................................Flexible metal snake, a plunger, salt
• Stainless Steel Cleaner...................White vinegar
• Dishwashing Liquid....................... Sea salt, lemon juice, hot water, few drops of orange essential oil
• Stain Remover............................... Borax and water
• Carpet Spot Remover................... Sprinkle with cornflour and let dry, then wash with bubbling water and vacuum
• Fabric softener...............................Add baking soda during rinse
• Brass, Copper, Aluminum Clearner.........Paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar

Source
Over the years I have experimented with a variety of safe solutions for less toxic cleaning products to be used around the home. Some have been very successful, others have been marginal, and some have been placed in Susan's Disaster Dump. Here is my short list below of tried, tested and true household winners from my point of view.

General Cleanser: Equal parts of borax and baking soda...this is my favorite toilet bowl cleaner. Just mix put a blend in a plastic container to leave by the toilet. Swish around the inside of the bowl and leave sitting overnight. Flush in the morning...fresh and clean! This is also used as a general cleanser for counter tops in the kitchen and bathroom. When needed, it can also be used as a laundry detergent. Wins the versatility award in my book!

Ants Be Gone: When the ants come marching into my kitchen I try the humane approach first. I really, really try to follow the Reiki Principle: Be Kind to All Living Things....first reasoning with them, explaining that they are best suited to be living outdoors in nature, which has more hospitable conditions for them than my kitchen counter and floors. I simply ask them to leave and give a timeline. This approach works less times than more. So then I have to move into survival mode- it's them or me...I kill a few of them then place them inside of an energy ring (Slim Spurling 1/2 cubit ring). This always works. I figure it is amplifying the frequency of DEAD ANTS to the rest of the gang, so they choose to go elsewhere.

Pesky Outdoor Fliers: Whether gnats, misquotes, flies or any other form of annoying, biting, peace disturbing flying insects that invade outdoor solitude, this is the BEST approach we have found to clear an area- garlic spray. You can buy a commercial brand, such as Garlic Barrier, or you can make your own by blending fresh garlic cloves into a liquid, then filling a spray bottle with water and the liquid garlic. Spritz! Spritz! Spritz! a few sprays later, the critters have decided to go partying elsewhere.

Stainless Spot Remover: Put a few dabs of olive oil on a paper towel, then wipe up your stainless, it comes beautifully spot free.

Furniture Polish: Olive oil again with Lemon essential oil

So my suggestion is try out some of the suggestions listed above, look for others, and experiment with new approaches to non-toxic living. If you have other suggestions we can add to this list that have worked for you, send them along, I would love to hear about them.